Hoppy Easter!!!

Insider Tips for BYU Women's Conference

I posted this last year, but with Women's Conference just over a week away, I thought some of you might need to read it again.

It is one of my favorite times of the year-Women's Conference at BYU. I have attended faithfully for the past five years. Over the years I have gained a wealth of information on how to make those two days really count.  And I will now share this treasure trove with all of you.   This is a must read for anyone attending for the first time.

DON'T be late to the Thursday morning opening meeting. Every year Mary Ellen Edmunds and Sandra Rodgers put together the most hee-hee-larious videos on the etiquette rules of the conference. It is definitely MUST SEE TV. And as far as I know, you have to be there to see it. It doesn't seem to be rebroadcast anywhere.

DO take the time to get some spiced roasted almonds. They are to die for and taste as good as they smell. Don't pass by thinking you'll get some next time, for they may be gone. Trust me, you won't be sorry.

DO go and listen to classes at the conference center. It is just behind the Marriot Center to the east. They have service station rooms set up where you can work while you listen. It is very fun to edge a baby quilt or color ABC kits. Plus it is not that far to walk.

DO bring lots of spending money. As much as Women's Conference is about soaking up the spirit and eating lots of yummy food, it is about the shopping. Be prepared to shop til you drop with all of the "deals" every where you turn. Check out the tent just outside of the Marriot Center if you don't want to go all the way to the bookstore. From books, music, artwork, to tote bags, good deals are everywhere.

DO plan on standing in lots of lines. You could use this time to read one of the books you just bought, or better yet make a new friend with the person standing next to you. It will help the time pass and nothing says bonding like waiting to empty your bladder with 30 other women.

DON'T forget your camera. This is a prime time for stalking and you want photographic evidence. I like to think of it as Disneyland and the General Authorities as the princesses. Someday I hope to have pictures of all of them.

Don't be afraid to go up and get your picture with any of the teachers. Over the years, I have had my picture taken with Julie Beck, Elaine Dalton, John Bytheway, and Susan Tanner. Besides that I have snapped pictures of Boyd K Packer, Jeffery R Holland, Thomas S Monson, and all of the general auxiliary presidencies.

Try it, it is super dee duper fun. *Portal Q is the best place to sit for stalking opportunities. This is right next to the opening where the leaders enter and leave. It is prime real estate for photo ops.

DO wear your most comfortable shoes. This is not time for making a fashion statement. You will be walking and standing a lot. Don't be foolish, choose comfort over style.

DON'T plan on getting any rest. If you are exhausted and are hoping this vacation will restore your sleep debt the size of the deficit, well you will be sorely disappointed. You can sleep anytime, this is the time for visiting with friends and family and soaking in the whole experience. Thursday activities will go from 9 am to 11 pm. And then Friday will start back up before you know it. Try to come as rested as you can.

DO be prepared for a spiritual feast the likes you don't get every day. Wear your spiritual eating pants, if you know what I mean. Any physical exhaustion you will experience will be somewhat compensated by the spiritual rejuvenation you will feel.

DO eat as many mint brownies as possible. They are manna from Heaven and remember calories don't count at Women's Conference. It is part of the magic.  Not to mention the spiced Almonds.  Equally delightful.

So there you have it, my insider tips. Now go and enjoy the benefits of my experiences.

Your welcome.

A Tale of Two Lewis's

We all know how much I love to stalk people.  Usually of the General Authority or BYU football flavor.  As stated in my last post, my recent trip to a BYU basketball game left me empty handed in the photo op department.  But this weekend was something of a cornucopia of opportunities, if you will. 

It has been so long since I have had a successful stalking situation, but stalking skills must be like riding a bike, because it all came right back to me, so not to worry.  I know you were all worried, right?

The young men and young women in our stake had a youth conference this weekend and the key note speaker was none other than Chad Lewis.  You know the BYU footbal star from 1993-1996, who later played in the NFL, culminating in an appearance in the Super Bowl in 2005 with the Philadelphia Eagles.  Yes, that Chad Lewis.

There was an hour long break between dinner and the fireside and it was amazing to be able to rub shoulders with Chad and his wife Michelle.  Of course I wormed my way right into the circle of people standing around visiting.  Here is the picture I got with them.  In one of the more disappointing moments of my life, the batteries in my camera died.  Woe is me.  So we have to be content with this picture taken on my phone.  Thank goodness I have a 4 megipixel camera on my phone, because this picture is not half bad as far as cell phone pictures go.  Can you get a sense of just how tall these people are?  Can you say giants?

These two went on the give one of the most amazing firesides I have ever attended.  They both talked about how important it is to never give up and how no matter what struggles we face, they can be over come with the help of the gospel in our lives.  They gave an amazing testimony and there was a powerful spirit present.

Of course I showed Chad the published proof of my crazy love for all things BYU football.  He admitted that there could be no denying my BYU Super Fan status.  How cool is that?  Chad Lewis said I was a Super Fan.  I may never wash my ears again.   It was a wonderful evening to say the least. 

And then today I went and heard Jeff Lewis speak at an event at the World Market Center, where I work.  If you have never heard of him, he has a reality TV show on BRAVO called Flipping Out.  It is about his business in California where he buys and flips houses.  In the recent bad economy he has turned more to designing homes.  He gave a talk about his background and about his show.  It was very interesting especially in stark comparison to the fireside the night before.  He talked about how the most important thing in his life is making money.  He too had faced some obstacles but unlike Chad, he did not have the peace that the gospel brings.  When the economy went bad, he lost a lot of money, and he was not prepared for that to happen.  And thus he faced a lot of stress.  On the other hand when Chad had disappointments he was OK because no matter what unexpected events happened to him, nothing could touch his testimony.  I don't remember the last time I have seen such stark contrasting examples of the the World's way the Lord's way.  Not hard to see which way brings the most peace and happiness.

First Jeff was interviewed, and then his assistant Jenny came up on stage and answered some questions.  And then after the presentation they let anyone who was interested stand in line and get a picture.   I admit  to being a bit star struck.  It is the first time I have ever met in real life some one I have watched on TV.  It was a bit crazy and surreal.  So here I am with Jeff and Jenny.  What the what.  And this time I made sure I had batteries.  Sheesh.

I have to say that they were very nice and accommodating.  And then after the pictures, Global Views, the company I used to work directly for and still work indirectly with, had a little luncheon.  During that luncheon, Jeff and Jenny came in and actually just hung out for a while.  Of course the whole time they were filming for their upcoming season.  The producers had everyone sign releases so that they could be on the show.  The season will air sometime this summer and it will be crazy to watch and know that I was there when it was filmed.  At one point during the meet and greet, I stood in a circle with Jenny and a few other people and we just chilled and chatted away.  It was beyond insane.  And she was so funny and told us about other Bravolebrities.  It blew my mind to talk with other people who share my same ridiculous obsession with reality TV shows on Bravo. 




And thus another chapter in my  "Stalking for Dummies" book comes to a close.

I think my  title as "Stalking Champion Extraordinaire"  is safe for a while longer. 

Which is good because I have become attached to the crown and sash that go with the title.

And doesn't it seem too random that both of my stalking victims this weekend would have the last name Lewis? 

What does that mean? 

And in a week and a half, Women's Conference.  Bwahahaha!

I think this was a good warm up staking exercise.

That was my super stalking weekend.  How was yours?

Me and Jimmer

 When the BYU Basketball team came to Vegas for the Mountain West Conference Championship, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go and see them play in person.

 

It was very fun walking into the Thomas and Mack amidst all my fellow Cougar fans.  All of us wearing our BYU Blue.  I felt very at home, if you will.

 I had purchased a cheap seat up in the rafters.  But there were a lot of empty seats down near the front, so I figured what was the point of sitting in the nosebleed section.  I got there in time to watch them warming up.  Look Jimmer is in my picture.

 Ok every one stretch it out and get ready to play.

 Even Jimmer needs to stretch.

I have to admit to being slightly disappointed that I didn't get close enough to touch any of the players.  I did see Tom Holmoe but I resisted asking to get my picture taken with him.  Also seen but not molested, BYU President Samuelson.  I had great seats for the first half that were about 3 rows from the front.

People did keep showing up and needing their seats, so I spent the second half up near the top of the bottom section.  Sadly it was not that great of a game, and the team struggled but did eventually win.  I wish that I had bought a ticket to the Friday night game where Jimmer went crazy and scored 50 points.  It would have been fun to be there for that.  But it was also fun to watch it at home on TV.

So now I can say that I saw Jimmer play in person. 

And Friday night Chad Lewis (former BYU football player) is

coming to speak out our youth conference.  And they needed volunteers

to be chaperones.  Don't worry I only knocked over 3 people on my 

way up to the sign up sheet.

So look forward to more stalking pictures. 

Imaginary Burden

Usually when I post, it is something that has been on my mind and I want to share.  This post is very unexpected and I did not wake up this morning intending to pour my heart out to the blogosphere.  

But when I read my name mentioned in this post , it kind of opened the floodgates and this post came pouring out.  If you don't know about the story of Camille, the foster daughter I loved and lost, you can read about it here.  

To experience any loss is a horrible thing.  But the thing about the loss of a foster child is that it seems like maybe the whole thing really didn't happen.  There are no funerals.  The child was never yours in any legal way, so if it wasn't legal then what is the big deal?  The whole world goes on and life happens.  The problem is that no one ever tells your heart that it wasn't real.  To most women, the very minute a child is given to them to care for and watch over, well that bond happens instantly.  And it is nothing legal or even logical, it is emotional.  In fact apparently, it a divine gift we are given so we can carry out the mission our Father in Heaven intended for us.   And that is why this loss is hard to explain and acknowledge, and grieve over, I suppose.

And in my case the fact that I moved the day after my loss doesn't help either, because most people in my new life don't know why this horrible event is so horrible.  To them Camille is, well imaginary, because they never knew and loved her the way I did.  It is hard feeling like I am the only one who is sad about this event.  Even my husband does not share my pain because he was gone working for most of the time that we had Camille, and perhaps it is just that men grieve differently then women.  It is not right or wrong, it is just a fact.  

And so I do not suppose that I will ever get over the trauma of having a child I cared for, ripped from my life in an instant.  Most of the time I think I do a pretty good job of pretending that I am OK.  But just every now and then this grief sneaks up on me and over takes me like a Tsunami of pain that I am never quite prepared for.  I have learned how to go on living, but I imagine that just like someone who looses an arm or leg, things are not the same and never will be.

It is strange.  To say the least.  At times I am pretty sure that I am crazy.

As Elder Johnson said in conference, "It should come as no surprise that the trials [we have] can be very personal, almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses and no one is exempt, especially not those striving to do what it right."

Elder Orson F Whitney's counsel was referenced twice in General Conference "No pain that we suffer, no trial we experience is wasted.  It ministers to our education to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and  humility.  All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God...and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we came here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in Heaven."

And so it is not to say that I am not aware that my Father in Heaven loves me.  I do realize this and have a testimony of the Gospel.

Most of the times knowing these things, I suppose does help, but sometimes I wonder if this pain will be the end of me.  In fact  it already has been the end of the happy, carefree me who believed that the world was my pearl and dreams were for the taking. So I not only lost a child, I lost myself.  And I am still trying to find the person I used to be.  Maybe that is just life and growing up, but I still find at times that I wonder where I have gone and who is the shell of a person I find myself watching my life from.

Like I said, it is strange.  And most of the time I try not to think to hard about all of it.

But today the wall I have built around the pain to keep it back, came crashing down.  And maybe that is a good thing every now and then.

So to my good friend Debbie, I say a big thank you for just understanding, acknowledging, and helping me carry my pain. 

Top Chef Shout Out

If you don't watch Top Chef this post may bore you.  Sorry, but you have been warned and there will be no hurt feelings if you choose not to read on.

I am a total reality TV junkie.  It is bad, people.  B.A.D.  Need for an intervention bad.  But I am not really ready for the cure so I will just continue on with the sickness.  And one of my most favorite shows has got to be Top Chef.  I love that show.  I don't know what I would do without my BRAVO TV.  It is must see for me, for sure.

And this season of Top Chef was the BEST.  I don't even know how I will ever watch anything again, because nothing will ever be that good.  It was chuck full of drama, emotion, the agony of defeat, and finally with the finale last week, a triumph of spirit and well a win for someone I have been rooting for all along.

I loved every last episode this season, whether there was a Jonas Brother and they were doing the Night at the Museum, or Elmo and Cookie Monster screaming for better cookies.  They really outdid themselves.  I loved it when Carla got to make Chicken Pot Pie for Jimmy Fallon.  I cried when the families were brought in on the Ellis Island episode and they celebrated and learned about their heritages.  I was on the edge of my seat when they cooked head to head at the tennis open.  And I loved watching them compete on the fishing trip challenge.  I felt the urge to hide in the bathroom and spend the night at Target when I watched them running up and down the aisles filling up their carts with cooking equipment.  Who knew you could make a great grilled cheese sandwich with an iron? I was shocked when the kitchen caught fire at the cook for royalty challenge.

Over all I give the season a big two thumbs up, and ten toes also.  Can't wait to watch the reunion show tonight.  Thanks guys for the past few months of entertainment on Wednesday nights.  I laughed, I cried, it moved me Bob.  What can I say.

How about you what is your favorite show?

Sometimes Less is More, but other times Less is Less

Perhaps it would be a good idea to post something for the month of March.  Not necessarily, necessary, but a nice thing.  So here is the deal.  It has come to my attention through pictures I keep seeing and even if I allow myself to look closely in the mirror, that, well, I am not exactly the person I used to be.  There is more of me.  Quite a bit.  Probably at least 20 pounds more than there used to be way back when.  I am not sure of exactly when this all happened.  It just seemed to sneak up on me.  And here is the thing, in my own head I don't look any different.  So you can imagine my surprise, shock, and even dismay whenever forced to face the reality that IS.  And here is the other deal, I have never in my life managed to control how much I weighed.  It has just been a fact.  There have been some times when I weighed very much less than I do now.  Sixty pounds to be exact.  And that was when I was deeply depressed after we lost Camille and moved to Vegas.  I would say I was bordering on being anorexic.  And regardless of how skinny I was, it was not healthy.  And even then I really could not force myself to eat.  I can remember walking through the grocery wondering what on earth to put in the cart because nothing, and I mean nothing looked or sounded good.  I can remember how hard it was just to get through each day when you don't have enough energy.  And so as much as I would like to loose weight, I do not wish to return to that kind of weight loss.

I am sure that there are all kind of understandable explanations as to why I did finally manage to put on weight, like dealing with a sick child by eating your way through lots of peanut M&Ms.  But understandable or not, I am not impressed with my current state of over weightness.  (which of course blogger does not think is a word, but I beg to differ)

I like to think of myself as a fairly healthy eater, aside from the peanut M&M binging.  I don't really like soda or really any juice for that matter.  Strictly water for me.  So I know I save a lot of calories there.  And really there is nothing I like more than a big juicy salad.  Which I thought was a healthy choice. 

So eventually I hit rock bottom, or the top of the scales to be more exact and weighed in at the highest weight of my life, just before  Thanksgiving.  I decided that things needed to change.  And so through the holidays I tried to be good and cut back.  Shockingly I did manage to loose a pound here or there, although a few of them found me again.  After the crazy month of January was over, I tried to be more diligent.  And eventually came to the conclusion that drastic times called for drastic measures.

And that my friends, is when I did something I never thought I would do,  I joined Weight Watchers.  I have had several friends join and have quite amazing results.  I figured "Hey what do I have to loose."  Oh yea, 30 pounds.  And a bit of my spending money.  So three weeks ago I went with a friend to my first meeting.

I have to admit to coming home from the first meeting feeling kind of unsure of what exactly I was suppose to be doing.  And to make matters worse they are out of the coolio calculators that help you figure out how many points things are when you are at the grocery store.  I did my best that first week with what we had in the house because I had already done my grocery shopping for the week.  At times I felt like I would explode with the desire to just run to the kitchen and eat everything in sight.  I realized that I do a lot of eating for the sake of eating or because I am bored and not because I am hungry.  Every day I felt as though I was just going to quit and say "Oh well maybe next time." 

A week later I returned to the meeting and quavering just a bit, stepped back on the scale.  I was shocked and amazed to find that I had lost 3.2 pounds in just one week.  Giddy with that small success, I went to the store and stocked up on lots of fresh veggies and fruits.  That week was hard also because I went out to lunch 3 different times that week for work.  But armed with what I was learning, I made different choices about what I was eating.  I was following the "If you bite it, you write it"  rule.  And keeping track seemed to make a big difference.  I did attend a wonderful baby shower full of the most decadent spread I have seen in a long time.  After wards, I was sure I had messed up big time.  But in retrospect, I can see how I only had seconds of the fruit salad that was all free points, and I only had 3 small cookies and no cake.

On weigh in number 2, I had lost another 3.2 pounds.  Holy smokes!  I couldn't believe it.  How had I managed to eat out 3 times and attend a baby shower and still loose?  I was very excited and impressed with this program of counting points.

Week three presented other challenges including attending a banquet with a set menu.  I was able to get the mashed potatoes changed for extra steamed vegetables and said no to the cheesecake they served for dessert and instead got a lovely bowl of fresh fruit.  It is amazing how yummy and sweet fruit is when you aren't really eating much sugar.    I did give in and eat 2 of the most delicious rolls with lots of butter.  I think it was definitely worth it and trust me I would rather have a roll than cheesecake any day. 

Still I was worried on Monday when it was time to step on the scale.  But not to worry, another 2.2 pounds have left the premises.  That means that I have lost 8.6 pounds in just three weeks.  My clothes are already fitting better and I can feel an actual difference.  It is amazing.  And really I love fruits and vegetables so much that it doesn't really seem that hard.

One thing I have figured out is that many things that I thought were healthy, are not.  Duh, how do you think I gained the extra weight?  It wasn't from eating dozens of doughnuts, I can assure you.  Here is the thing.  On Weight Watchers, I can eat about 30 points a day.  Some of my favorite things are that many points in just one meal.  For example I love to get the Garden Crepes when we go out as girls for breakfast at IHOPabout once a month.  I am not eating it everyday, but it is an example of eating something I thought was healthy-mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, etc- that would total 28 points just for that one dish.  Yikes.  So in the future I would know to only eat half of it in one sitting, or even ask for it without the Hollandaise sauce.  And all the salads that I love at Applebees or even Wendy's, yes those are chuck full of points as well.

That is what I knew I needed to learn,  just what the things I was eating were doing to my body.  Because obviously I wasn't choosing the right things.

We will see just how long I can keep this up.  Who knows, tomorrow I may quit.  But for now I am excited to think that something is working in the weight loss department.  That hasn't happened, ever in my life.  Oh and I still have energy, so that is a bonus as well. 

Nothing to say

I am tired of looking at my Christmas post, so I suppose that it must be time to put something new up.  Problem is, I really don't have anything to say. 

I spent the month of January working pretty much non stop, including one week where I worked 86 hours.  This is excessive to say the less.  But the overtime was nice on the pay check.  And that was working 7 days that week, so that is not as bad as squeezing it all into 5 days.  Although there does come a point where you wonder if productivity doesn't take a nose dive.  Just sayin.  All the craziness is over for six more months, and really the summer part of this part time job, is not as intense as the January part.  So here is to what doesn't kill you to making you stronger.  Although I don't really feel any stronger.  I feel kind of empty and exhausted.  Every time I sit down, I fall asleep.  But perhaps I will regain some of my energy and enthusiasm for blogging.

It is kind of strange to try and return to normal life of driving kids around, making dinner, and cleaning.  One can get kind of used to just running to the nearest fast food when you are in survival mode.  So I am trying to remember just what did I used to make for dinner.  It is a mystery to me.

I keep saying think of the money and time we could save if we just gave up this obsession with eating every single day.  But no one every listens to me.  And if we gave up eating, I wouldn't need to spend any time concerned with food storage or case lot sales.  I think we should all embrace a grass roots program to embrace fasting 7 days a week.  Who's with me?

A post of a bunch of picturs of Christmas decorations. And a few of people.

I decided to get one more post in before the New Year.  Boy my posting has really dropped off the charts this year.  I think it is due to working so much more.  It is OK I can live with it.  Perhaps I will post more next year.  Who knows?  I decorated my house mid November because I was so excited about all the new decorations I have acquired from work.  I think one of the best things was a new 9 foot tree.  This one I got from a company who works across from RAZ.  They just needed it out of the building, and it was free for the taking.  It is really one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen, and one I could only dream of owning.
 

 Here is a closer up shot.  Most of the ornaments on it came from RAZ.  Diana says it is very sad that we don't have all the old ornaments we are used to seeing, but I loved having it all be so cohesive.

 Here are a few of my nativities.  I loved the taller one of just Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus. 

 I got this nativity from a company next to Raz who were selling their samples.  I love it, and I saw the very same one for sale at Deseret Book for quite a bit more than I paid.

I loved this tall upright nativity, and it fit just right on my little table with my missionary picture.

 My niece Brooke came to visit us for Christmas vacation.  She had so much fun with Jared and Diana.  Here are Brooke and Diana in their new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

 Jared is a giant compared to these two girls.

 Diana hoping for Santa to come.

 The girls strike a pose.

 Brooke looking good on Christmas Eve.

 Jared's soccer shirt looks pretty appropriate for the season.

 Here is my Santa corner.  Last year there were just two Santas here, but they have multiplied.

 How funny is this moose?  I love him.  Another favorite addition to the decor this year.

 This is the tree for the family room.  It has more of the traditional decorations, but still we didn't get everything on the tree.

 This Santa was the perfect tree topper.

 Here is the collection for the top of the TV.

 And here are the snowmen, with one Santa thrown in for good measure.

 Diana wore these antlers to school for crazy hat day, and then they seemed to fit just right on this Santa.

 I loved how all these red things looked so nice on my white shelf.

 This moose is swooning from all of the festivities.

 Someone was a bit excited about her Itunes cards.

 And finally, even though she is practically the last one to get a Wii, she finally got her heart's desires.

 And, YES Just Dance.  This game has to be the most fun and has been played almost non stop.

 Brooke got some perfume.  Jared isn't that impressed.

 And here is a shot of my Mother-in-law who is serving in Nauvoo.  She is the blond angel on the front row with short hair.  I found this picture on Meridian Magazine.  Kind of cool.

 And finally a shot of my missionary at the mission Christmas devotional.  He is hamming it up for the camera.  Nice, huh.  We had a very nice visit with him on the phone on Christmas day.

I have to say that I am very impressed with how blogger had made it so much easier to put pictures on a blog post.  Who knew?  Not me as I haven't posted in forever.  I hope all of you made it through the season.  I am going to be working non stop for the month of January, but perhaps in February I will be back.  Maybe.  I am not making an promises.  OK.  So don't hold your breath. 

Missionary Update

 My son is doing really well in Florida.  He just got transferred from Live Oak to St Augustine last week and was made a senior companion.  He had his first baptism the first week of December, two days before he was transferred, and imagine my surprise when the sister he baptized called me on the phone.  The connection was a bit fuzzy, but I could understand that she was so grateful to be baptized.  She thanked me for sending my son on a mission so he could change her life.  It was so good to hear from someone who has seen him and to hear her say that he is doing well.   And really at times like those, it doesn't even feel like a sacrifice.  Just think in twelve days I will get to talk with him.  That will be the best Christmas present ever.

I belong to an email group of missionary moms of sons and daughters serving in Florida.  One of those mom's posted this poem, and it is too good not to share.  Pretty much sums up how it feels to send a son on a mission.

WARNING : This poem could cause extreme eyeball sweating.

A Missionary Christmas  (author unknown)

 I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there.
 No pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.
 His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.
 I've bought him all white clothes because... This year I'm giving Christ
 my son.

 I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
 I've reread November's Ensign, Felt strength come from His words.
 Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
 Abraham seems closer because, This year I'm giving Christ my son.

 I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?
 Or how the pioneers chose Zion , their sacrifice was so much more.
 My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton
 For two years we will pray for him, I'm giving Christ my son.

 I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their shine.
 He's always hungered for the part of him, that makes his soul divine.
 The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.
 I'll put my faith in God's hand, This year, I'm giving Him my son.

 Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand
 Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
 It's because I know Christ lives and reigns that all his packing's done.
 My gift has taken years to make, This year... I'm giving Christ my son.

 I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making.
 Who knows the gift I willingly give, The toll it will be taking.
 For He has done it all before Greater love - there could be none.
 For years ago God gave to me, His only begotten son.

 The hands I washed, the hands I held, The hands I taught to pray;
 Now knock on doors to find the ones Who will listen to what he'll say.
 Because I know Christ needs him, Until all the gathering's done,
 My gift has taken years to make.  This year...I'm giving Christ my son.



Sorry this is not Wonka-vision with a box of Kleenex you could pull out of the screen.

Holiday Humor

Here is a little Las Vegas humor to get your holiday started:

Las Vegas Churches accept gambling chips

THIS MAY COME AS A SURPRISE TO THOSE OF YOU NOT LIVING IN

LAS VEGAS , BUT THERE ARE MORE CATHOLIC CHURCHES THAN CASINOS.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, SOME WORSHIPERS AT SUNDAY SERVICES WILL GIVE CASINO CHIPS RATHER THAN CASH WHEN THE BASKET IS PASSED.


SINCE THEY GET CHIPS FROM MANY DIFFERENT CASINOS, THE CHURCHES HAVE DEVISED A METHOD TO COLLECT THE OFFERINGS..

THE CHURCHES SEND ALL THEIR COLLECTED CHIPS TO A NEARBY FRANCISCAN MONASTERY FOR SORTING AND THEN THE CHIPS ARE TAKEN TO THE CASINOS OF ORIGIN AND CASHED IN.


THIS IS DONE BY THE CHIP MONKS.

Have you done any good in the world today?

Good Mood Gig from SAM-e

Here is the deal, one of my bff's  from blogland is trying to get  job by winning a contest.  She needs everyone's help, so click on this link and vote for her every day until November 10th.

She will also be having fabulous give aways on her blog so go and check it out if you are into winning free stuff.  Just click here.  Trust me, her blog will make you smile and sometimes outright spit your drink all over the computer screen.  So be sure to swallow before reading.  Oh and you might want to visit the bathroom as well.  Just saying.

So here is the chance to do a good deed with only the click of the mouse.  How often can you make someone's dream come true so easily?  Look to it peeps.

Missionary Update

I thought I would post just a little update about Elder Hammond.

Here he is the day he got to the mission field with President and Sister Barry.

Do you think he would hate to know that

I think he looks so cute in his badge?

Here is the thing, he is doing amazingly well and loving every minute so far.

I am so grateful that he is where he is,

but it is strange to be so starved for information

about what his new life is like.

You get this kid as a baby and you are there for every single minute.

And then you watch them grow up and you get to go to

every game or concert they are a part of.

You have a front row seat for everything,

and now when he is doing the most important thing he has done so far

you get a few paragraphs every week.

It seems completely inadequate.

And so I stalk the mission blog and

take great joy in seeing the corner of his head in one

of the pictures of the missionaries eating lunch at

a zone conference.

I belong to an email group of other missionary moms to kids

serving in Jacksonville Florida, and every now and then

another mom knows something about the area

he is serving in.

I google earth his address and learn about the city he is in and

any other useless information.

Let me share a part of one of his letters:

"We were challenged by Elder Pearson's wife to read Joseph Smith's history every Sunday and I can say that I've grown to love Joseph Smith. How he was just a normal kid and had many struggles including just bursting out with laughter and being irreverent at church even after his vision. He was a normal guy and I aspire to become like him. I'd love to meet him one day and give him a big hug. He's an awesome man and I appreciate him so much. I gave my first 2 priesthood blessings in 2 days. My first one was wild. I didn't feel any promptings to say anything specific, but as soon as I started I felt the spirit fill my whole body instantly stronger than I've ever felt it. My hands trembled a little as I finished the blessing. It was the wildest thing I've ever experienced with the spirit. He truly encompassed my body and his hands were in mine as I placed them on this lady's head."

Of course when I read something like that, I feel silly for even feeling

like I am missing out on "watching"  him serve his mission.

I know if I was there he could not have the same growth

and experiences.

And so it has been a couple of crazy months,

getting him ready to go,

adjusting to him being gone,

and settling into the routine of just one

letter a week.

It is good and truly I wouldn't want him to be

anywhere else than serving the Lord.

The Tallest of Tall with the Smallest of Small

I think I am going to start embracing wordless Wednesday.  It seems all I can muster right now.

This is Jared with my neice last summer in Seattle.

The Witch Is In

How do I feel overwhelmed, let me count the ways.

I am not quite sure, but I think I am suffering from post summer stress syndrome or PSSS, if you will.  I think back to May and I was so looking forward to having a break from the routine of school.  Of course we did start summer school just 8 days after school ended.  But still getting just one kid to school at 7:30 each day shouldn't be that hard should it?

At the same time I helped prepare a child to leave on a mission.  Again on paper this doesn't seem that hard, costly, yes, hard no.  Just go to the store and fill a cart and empty your check book.  But as my sister pointed out, anticipating your child's every need for two years and then cramming it in a suit case, well that could be cause for exhaustion.  Never mind all the introspection about how you should have taught him to sew on buttons or cook more or manage money better, never mind have done a better job of forcing him at gunpoint to seminary.   Well the tsunami of could'a, would'a, should'a thoughts tend to leave a person feeling less than perky.

Eventually we found ourselves at the appointed time.  I have wanted to write some romantic emotional retelling of the events, but lack the wherewith all at this point to make it happen.  Let's just say I forgot his immunization card that they stress was the most important thing to bring to the MTC.  This caused me no end of guilt and concern.  Fortunately my husband can use a scanner and emailed them to me.  Of course the printer didn't work at my sister's house in Utah, so I had to run over to my brother's house, but that was OK because I also needed to hem the baptism pants we bought and I then forgot to even think about again.  So not much stress in printing out necessary paperwork and hemming pants all the morning before the drop off.  When it was all said and done, he was nervous and tired of waiting around and so we went a half an hour early.  And no I didn't cry.  I feel like I must be a bad mom for that too.  Are we sensing a pattern here?   Truth is I was just so relieved that we finally made it and that he still wanted to serve and that he was where the Lord wanted him to be.

It wasn't until we got home and I saw some of his favorite foods lying around that only he likes to eat.  Things like that kind of made me stop and think about how strange it is.  And I realized that he is going to miss seeing Jared graduate from high school.  Why did I never realize that before.  So perhaps I was able to delay my grief about him leaving and I was really sadder about it than I thought.

Of course I went right from Utah to Seattle for a week and a half of fun family time.  It was so nice to hang out and have fun with everyone.  It was a bit of a chore to help in the feeding of the masses, but everyone pitched in.  And of course fun is just so dang exhausting.  Can someone explain that to me?

I came home and immediately worked like a banshee, whatever that means for one of my jobs. Long, long hours, but at least my kids stayed in Seattle and I didn't have to figure out what is for dinner when I got home.   And then I have spent a lot of time at my second job for the past two weeks. 

I am also suppose to be spending every spare moment sitting in the car with Jared so he can finish up his driving hours and get his license.  Go figure that other things seem to crop up and take priority over ridding around for hours in the 100 temperatures.   We did spend about an hour driving around last Tuesday night, but someone in our neighborhood called the cops reporting that a small white car was casing their house.  I guess we need to increase our driving range to more than just driving around the block for an hour.  The cops were very understanding.

Things like 6th grade orientation.  Good news there, Diana got a top locker and PE sixth period.  Very happy for her.  We were not successful in getting her locker to actually open and plan to spend a few hours this week so she will be ready for the first day.  She also decided that middle school means no more glasses and so we are entering the time consuming world of contacts.  Last Sunday we were 15 minutes late to church because she couldn't get the goll darn things to stay in.  This week went better, and we went back to the eye doctor for follow up visits several times.  Oh and did I mention the doctor visit because her ear hurt,  but the found a darkened piece of ear wax the size of pea in her ear.  Once they washed that out, it felt better.  Who knew of such things?  I have never heard of anything like that.

Someone called to give me a quote for car insurance and I think it is lower so I need to finish analyzing all of that and make some decisions.  And I am suppose to be changing life insurance companies which needs some more finalizing and paperwork done.  I have got to mail Elder Hammond his new driver's licence which should be in a care package which means I should make cookies.  I need to find Jared's proof of driver's ed certificate which I am pretty sure will entail a painful trip to a line at the high school.   I am a complete failure at blogging.  It saddens me when I really think about it.  Next Sunday I am expected to give a wonderful lesson on Job.  So that should be no problem, right.  And does anyone else want to just smack me upside the head and tell me to chill out?

Seriously some deep cleansing breaths seem in order.  I am sure once I have poured this all out and into the universe, things will feel better.  But some of this could be why it feels like the walls are closing in. 

Apparently I am not doing this whole working/balancing everything thing very well. at. all.

I think a wiser me would tell me that I have been neglecting the important things like going to the temple and reading my scriptures.  But the current cranky me would like to kick the wiser me in the kiester.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Families may be forever, but family pictures are few and far between.

Well proving that sometimes dreams can come true,

or at the very least that fate can miss when it tries to kick you in the pants,

 we actually made it to get a family picture taken before

Trent left for two years.

I know, don't pass out from the shock, I know I almost did.

True it was 6:30 the night before he left and JC Penny's closed at 7,

but still

the picture was taken and actually it did not turn out half bad.

Here is a rather fuzzy picture of what we looked like the last time

we managed to force everyone at gun point to sit

in front of a camera.  It has been way

too long since Trent wasn't even shaving

the last time we had a formal picture taken.

Diana took a shot with this adorable hat.

And another with a chair and teddy bear.

The three offspring even managed to sit next to each other long

enough for this moment to be captured for posterity.

And no Trent does not moonlight as a bouncer

or hit man for the mob.  So you will have to look

else where if you need that kind of thing.

Here is the soon to be next driver in the house.

And here is the future missionary, 36 hours from the MTC.

Here is the happy couple 26 years into this marriage thing.

We needed one of all the boys.

And one with just the girls.

All in all, it was one of the more painless family picture taking episodes

I have been privy too.

Now we don't have to worry about that for 7 more years.  Whew